NEWS RELEASE
CAROLINE MULRONEY MPP YORK - SIMCOE
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Today, Caroline Mulroney, MPP for York-Simcoe, announced that the Bradford Helping Hand Food Bank and Bradford Legion will each receive $150,000 to help offset the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic so that they can continue to deliver the best service possible for the people of Bradford West Gwillimbury and create a stronger Ontario. This grant has been provided through the Resilient Communities Fund.
“Both the Bradford Helping Hand Food Bank and Bradford Legion stepped up to the plate during the COVID-19 pandemic to help residents, and this funding will offset those impacts and ensure that they can continue supporting those who count on their services,” said Caroline Mulroney, MPP for York-Simcoe. “Non-profit organizations are a valued part of the York-Simcoe community, and our government will continue to find ways to support them as best as we can.”
In total, the Ontario government is providing $95.8 million this year through the Resilient Communities Fund to help 1,146 non-profit organizations across the province recover and rebuild.
The Resilient Communities Fund provides grants of up to $150,000 to eligible non-profit organizations to cover a broad and flexible range of needs, such as:
- Mental and physical health and well-being supports for staff or volunteers.
- Support to adapt or re-imagine program delivery and services to meet the needs of communities, employees and volunteers, incorporate new health and safety processes, or purchase new technology and personal protective equipment.
- Renovations and facility updates to meet the changing needs of the communities they serve.
“Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, our government has committed to supporting those struggling the most,” said Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries. “That’s why it’s been a priority for us to fund successful programs like the Resilient Communities Fund, which helps non-profits adapt and grow – ensuring they can continue providing the best service possible to the people of Bradford and make a positive difference in the lives of individuals and families.”
"We're absolutely thrilled to receive funding from the Trillium Foundation that will help to cover the important renovations and equipment costs of moving into our new space at the coming Bradford community hub,” said Carolyn Khan, executive director for the Helping Hand Food Bank. “Whether it's large, walk-in freezers or warehouse shelving, these funds will be put to good use serving nearly 1000 clients in need every month as the Food Bank continues to grow to serve the community."
"The Bradford Legion is very grateful to be receiving this grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation,” said Tammy Paglia, president, Orville Hand Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion. “These funds will be put towards improving outdoor spaces at the Legion, such as the front courtyard and cenotaph, the parking lot and our patio, as well as to add landscaping and trees around our property to help create more accessible, beautiful and useful outdoor spaces for our members.”
"It's really great news from MPP Caroline Mulroney that our Legion and our Food Bank were chosen to receive $150,000 each towards important capital costs,” said Bradford West Gwillimbury Councillor Jonathan Scott. “Both organizations do so much for Bradford West Gwillimbury residents, and these funds will help such valued community partners better serve our town for years to come."
The Ontario Trillium Foundation will continue to offer the Resilient Communities Fund in 2022- 23 to help more eligible non-profit organizations that have been impacted by COVID-19. Application details and a full list of grant recipients to date are available on the OTF website.
The Resilient Communities Fund is administered by the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) – an agency of the Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries – and has supported 2,191 projects across Ontario since it was announced in August 2020.
In 2020-21, OTF redirected provincial funding previously allocated for the 2020 Grow and Capital grant streams into the $83-million Resilient Communities Fund to rebuild the capacity of non-profit organizations impacted by COVID-19.
OTF awarded $94.3 million to 1,238 projects in 2021 through its Seed grant stream and Resilient Communities Fund to build healthy and vibrant communities in Ontario.
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